John 18:15-27 – Jesus asks for a fair trial

15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in.

After Jesus was arrested, Peter followed Jesus as He was being taken to the high priest. Another disciple also followed with Peter and this disciple was known to the high priest. It is not clear who this disciple is but most people says it was John. I don’t know who he was. Since this disciple was known to the high priest, he organized that Peter be let into the courtyard. The servant girl who kept watch at the door opened for Peter and allowed him in.

17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

This servant girl noticed Peter as one of Jesus’s disciples and asked him if it were so, Peter denied that he knew Jesus. Probably scared that he will also be arrested since where he was standing, there were officers as well trying to get warm around the fire since it was cold. It could have also been some of the officers who arrested Jesus.

19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

This verse shows clearly what the high priest, the Pharisees, Saduccees and scribes had a problem with. They did not have a problem with Jesus as a person but they had a problem with his teaching. They had a problem with what he was saying, exposing them as hypocrites every step of the way.

20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.”

Jesus then told the high priest that He never said anything in secret. He is not and has never plotted anything or conspired against anyone. Everything He said was in public and at synagogue where most Jews gather. They heard what he said, they know what he said. He then told the high prices to ask them. Jesus is simply saying to the high priest, if there was anything wrong that I said, those who heard me must come and bear witness.

22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” 24 Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

One of the officers who was probably part of those who arrested Jesus, on hearing Jesus’s reply, struck him with his hand. Jesus then said to him that if there was something wrong that He said, then He must bear witness about that wrong, otherwise why strike Him. Just like what He said to the high priest, all Jesus was asking for is a fair trial. A trial based on the law of Jews which said, a person will be found guilty on the witness of two or three witnesses. Annas seeing that He was not going to go anywhere with Jesus, sent Him to Caiaphas who was the high priest that year. Annas was a former high priest.

25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.”

Those who were with Peter at the fire warming themselves up, asked Peter if he was not one of Jesus’s disciples, this included the relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off. Both times Peter denied knowing Jesus and as Jesus foretold, the rooster crowed.

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Nehemiah 8:8 They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage. (NLT)

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